Stove top grate



April 22, 1952 E K 2,594,215

STOVE TOP CRATE Filed 001:. l, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l /NVEN7'0A 2 Mnec PESEA April 22, 1952 M. RESEK STOVE TOP GRATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1947 M 1 w w W i 1L r & 2 a L v m w M M w w 7 w Li hm, /HT 10 w w u 1 ii 1; n ,4 1 w a 4 w w T 4. 12 1 1 a m W 7 n w 6. llr

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 STOVE TOP GRATE Marc Resek, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to Perfection Stove Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application October 1, 1947, Serial No. 777,186

Claims.

This invention consists of improvements in grates of the class used in the top openings of fluid fuel or other stoves, particularly fluid fuel cooking stoves and ranges for supporting utensils over the burners thereof.

A primary object of the invention is the production of a. very strong and durable grate. To this end I construct the grate of parts made from wrought metal (this term being used in a broad sense to distinguish from cast metal), and I rigidly weld said parts together so that any slight yielding of the grate under load is due to the inherent resiliency of the metal and not to the looseness of joints.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein provides for the use of two grates in a single large opening of a stove top beneath which burners are disposed in operative relation to both grates; and it is another object of the invention to provide a design that enables two identical grates, reversed with respect to each other, to be used in a single opening of a stove top, and according to which design each gratef includes means extending beneath an adjacent edge of the other grate for sustaining the latter against noticeable sagging under extreme load.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a grate of the class above mentioned, means for compensating for irregularities in the part of the stove top on which the grate rests. such means preferably consisting of shallow lugs on the under side of the peripheral portion of the grate, and any one or more of which may be readily ground away or otherwise reduced in height enough to cause the grate to set firmly notwithstanding said irregularities.

Another object of the invention is to conserve heat by reducing to a minimum the conductivity of heat to the stove top through parts of the grate contacting the same. This result is accomplished, largely, by reducing to as few as practical the parts of the grate that are joined to the marginal frame thereof and making such parts of small cross-sectional area, and, further, by having the marginal portion of the grate, excepting at widely spaced intervals, sustained out of contact with the stove top.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the cost of production and at the same time improve grates of the class referred to by constructing the grate of parts that may be easily and quickly cut and, where necessary, formed from standard strip or bar metal and rod, and which parts are convenient of assembly and capable of being rigidly united by welding.

A further advantage resulting from the use of strong, light weight material of the sort above referred to for the ribs and other parts of my improved grate, and which, as a consequence of its'characteristics, possesses low heat capacity, is that a greater percentage of the heat delivered by the burner is available for heating the utensils and their contents, thereby increasing the eiiiciency of the cooking operation.

The objects above enumerated, with others that will appear as this description proceeds, are attained in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a stove top within a single large opening of which repose two of the grates of my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of an end portion of one of the grates shown in Fig.

the respective lines 6-6, 'I! and 88 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of adjoining ends of the two members of the marginal frame in separated condition and prepared for uniting by socalled projection welding; Fig. 10 is an inside elevational view of a part of the marginal frame in the region of one of the lugs by which the grate is supported from a stove top; Fig. 11 is a section on the line llll of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section through the work holder or fixture in which the parts of the grate are assembled, and by which said parts are located and maintained in proper relation to one another while being welded together, the view including a diagrammatic representation of the upper and lower platens of a welding machine or press; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the work holder or fixture showing parts of the grate positioned therein, and Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a corner portion of the work holder or fixture.

According to the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed (Figs. 1 to 11), the grate, designated generally by the reference numeral [0, includes a marginal frame I I that is generally rectangular or oblong in shape and has diagonal comer portions, said frame being made up of members H and II. Each member is formed, preferably from a piece of strip or bar metal of the proper length, to the shape best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the extreme end portions. of

V the member li are initially formed on their outer sides with semi-spherical bosses [1* (Fig. 9), as by outward displacement of the metal, and when said end portions of the member II are urged into contact with the overlapping end portions of the member I I and a welding current is applied, the projections H fuse and rigidly unite the frame members, such operation being known as projection welding. I wish it to be understood, however, that making the marginal frame ll of rod or wire of suitable diameter comes within the purview of my invention.

The member H at suitable intervals therealong, is provided on its under side with lugs l is; and said lugs are preferably formed from metal displaced from the body of the frame member by producing depressions ll therein (Figs, 10 and 11).

Disposed transversely of the marginal frame, slightly more than one third the length of the frame inwardly from each end thereof, is a strut l5. Each strut is made from a strip of metal that is about half again as wide as that from which the marginal frame is constructed (Fig. 6), and at its ends is turned laterally to provide lugs l and l5 that are welded to the inner sides of the respective members Hi and ll of the marginal frame, desirably by projection welding. Throughout the length of the lug l5v and for a short distanceinwardly therefrom the width of each strut I5 is reduced to slightly less than that of the frame member He, as indicated at l5 in Fig. 6, soas to insurev against this portion of the strut extending below the underside of said frame member when it is welded thereto; The distal end of the lug 15 of each strut is cut away to leave a projection [5 that is turned laterally beneath, and extends some distance beyond the outer plane of, the frame member I I for a, purpose which shal1 presently appear.

' By means of the struts l5, the interior of the frame I l is set offinto three divisions, and within each division, and surrounding and concentric with the central vertical axis thereof, is a ring l8 formed from metal rod of suitable diameter. Incidentally, since the ends of the rod are not joined together, the result is a split ring. The ring l8 occupies a horizontal plane about midway between the upper and lower edges of the marginal frame ll. Extending inwardlyacross each end of the frame II and. the near side, of the adjacent ring l8, and radially disposed to the latter, is a rib 20, which, like the others hereinafter mentioned, is cut to proper length from standard strip or bar metal, and said rib 20, is notched on its under side at its outer end for the accommodation of the underlying portion of the marginal frame.' The under side of each rib 20 is also formed with a semicircular notch for the reception of the top half of the underlying part of the corresponding ring I8. In the plane of the ribs 20, and bisecting the struts l5, are double ended ribs 22. Said double ribs are notched on their under sides midway between their ends, and.

the struts are notched on their upper sides, for interengagement with each other. Extending inwardly over each diagonal corner portion of the marginal frame II and over the adjacent parts marginal frame, the ribs 24 being somewhat shorter than the ribs 26, and being provided on the under side with notches spaced a substantial distance inwardly from their outer ends for the 4 reception of the underlying portion of the marginal frame. The ribs 26 are notched at their outer lower corners for engagement with the adjacent diagonal corner portion of the marginal frame. All of the ribs 24 and 23 are, of course, notched to receive the underlying portions or the rings Iii aCIOSs which they extend.

Occupying notches in the upper edges of the struts 15, near their ends, are the notched central portions of substantially v-shaped ribs 28. The end portions of these ribs, beyond said central portions, lie in planes radial to the rings and are notched on their under sides to receive the rings.

3!! denote ribs that are disposed at right angles to the longer sides of the frame H and are provided at their outer lower corners withnotches that receive the underlying portions of the frame, said notches being only slightly deeper in a direction longitudinally of the ribs than the thickness of the material from which the frame is constructed, for which reason the ends of the ribs extend slightly beyond the outer planes of the frame members Said ribs 39 are also notched for the reception of the rings 18.

All of the beforementioned ribs are made from standard strip or bar metal of the same width and cross section, and the notches thereof, which accommodate the frame members and rings, are properly graduated in depth so that the top sur faces of the ribs, after the grate has been properly fabricated and all parts rigidly welded together, are inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal downwardly from their outer ends, as appears from the drawings. Being so inclined, they better support and position the average run of utensils.

In Figs. 1 and 2, 35 denotes the part of a stove top provided with a relatively large opening beneath which burners (not shown) are arranged in the customary manner. Surrounding the opening in the stove top is a depressed ledge 36. Within the opening are disposed, in reverse relation to each other, two grates ie, the frame members li of which are adjacent each other. The frame members Il through their lugs li rest on the ledge 36, and any irregularities in the latter, due to slight warping of the metal from which the top is formed, or the unevenness of the vitreous enamel coating that is usually applied to stove tops, may be compensated for by grinding away or otherwise reducing in height to the extent necessary, the lugs li Thus, the grates may be caused to set firmly 0n the ledge of the 5 stove top, and if either grate is sprung downwardly by the imposition of considerable weight thereon, it will be sustained against undue sagging by the underlying lugs l5 of the other grate.

Figs. 12 to 14 illustrate the method and apparatus that are employed in the manufacture of the grate. The Work holder or fixture in which the parts of the grate are assembled and by which theyare maintained in proper relation to each other during the welding operation'is' designated generally by the reference numeral 40.

This work holder or fixture ii! includes a base plate ll that is made of suitable insulating material having the required stiriness and durability, and supported by this plate in spaced relation to its top surface is a guide plate 42. In the construction shown, the guide plate is connected to the base plate by a suitable number of bolts 63, and it is held at the desired elevation above the base plate by tubular spacers ed that surround said bolts. 4 I

45 denotes conductor blocks that are preferably made of copper, and they are provided on their under side with tenons 46 that extend through slots in the base plate 4|, said tenons being of a depth somewhat greater than the thickness of the base plate so as to project beyond the under side of said plate. There is a conductor block 45 for each rib of the grate, and each block is generally similar in shape and location to the corresponding rib. The conductor blocks are fastened to the base plate by screws 41. The guide plate 42 has a slot directly above each conductor block which is of a width to easily receive a rib of the grate edgewise therein. The slots intended for the reception of all ribs that overlie the marginal frame open through the edge of the guide plate and the inner ends of these slots serve as stops to properly position the ribs with respect to said frame. It will be observed, also, that the top surfaces of the conductor blocks 45 have the same inclination as the ribs.

Rising from the bed plate 4| outwardly beyond the guide plate 42 are saddle blocks 50 having upwardly opening grooves that receive parts of the marginal frame These blocks 50 serve to locate said frame in proper relation to the ribs, it being understood that the marginal frame, including the struts I5, is fabricated prior to the assembly of the parts in the work holder or fixture.

The split rings l8 of the grate are positioned by pairs of radially spaced pins 52 that are grouped about the centers from which the slots radiate that receive the ribs of the grate; and in order to insure substantial alignment of the ends of the rods that form the split rings when the rings are placed in the work holder or fixture, said ends are inserted between lugs 54 that are carried by the guide plate 42.

In assembling the parts of a grate in the work holder or fixture 40, the latter is placed on a bench or other support and the assembler selects ribs from individual supplies of the different kinds located in convenient reach and inserts them in the appropriate slots of the guide plate 42 so that they will rest on the conductor blocks 45 therebelow, the ribs being in inverted position with their notched edges upward. Either the marginal frame H or the rings |8 may next be placed in the work holder or fixture. In the case of the frame, it is engaged with the appropriate rlbs'and properly located with respect thereto by the saddle blocks 5|). The rings l8 are inserted in the spaces defined by the pairs of pins 52, with the ends of the rods from which the rings are formed confined within the spaces between the sets of lugs 54. When thus located, the rings rest in the semi-circular notches of the underlying ribs of the grate.

With the parts of the grate thus assembled in the work holder or fixture, the latter is placed upon the lower platen 60 of a welding machine or press (while the upper platen 62 is in elevated position). Holes in the ends of the base plate 4| receive locating pins 64 of the welding machine or press and position the work holder or fixture 40 with the lower ends of the tenons 46 of the conductor blocks 45 in contact with elevated portions of the lower platen 60. Now, upon operation of the welding machine or press, the top platen 62 descends, and projections thereon, which correspond in number and position with the contact blocks 45, engage the marginal frame II and rings l8 directly above the ribs of the 6 grate.- Now", with the grate assembly compressed, along with the work holder or fixture, between the upper and lower platens, the current is turned on. As will be understood, the portion .of the welding circuit between the upper and lower platens includes the marginal frame, rings and ribs of the grate, and the conductor blocks 45. Therefore, it will be seen that all ribs are simultaneously welded to the rings and marginal frame, and that said parts of the grate are thus instantaneously and rigidly secured together with the required precision.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A grate of the class described comprising a substantially rectangular marginal frame having diagonal corner portions, struts disposed between and connected to the opposite sides of the frame and separating the frame into a plurality of divisions, a ring located at about the center of each division and in the plane of the frame, ribs extending inwardly from the opposite sides of the marginal frame across the rings and terminating short of the centers thereof, a rib extending inwardly from each end of the frame across the adjacent ring and terminating short of the center thereof, a rib extending from each diagonal corner portion of said frame inwardly across the near side of the adjacent ring to near the center thereof, ribs bisecting the aforesaid struts and overlying the adjacent portions of the rings on opposite sides of the struts and terminating short of the center thereof, the last mentioned ribs being in substantially the plane of the first mentioned ribs, further ribs intersecting at their longitudinal centers said struts near the ends of the latter, the end portions of the last mentioned ribs extending substantially radially of and overlying the adjacent rings and terminating short of the center thereof, the ribs, where they intersect the rings, struts and frame being at right angles thereto and rigidly united therewith by welding.

2. A grate according to claim 1, wherein the marginal frame, struts and ribs are of strip metal, and the rings are of wire of suitable gauge.

3. A grate of the class described comprising an elongated substantially rectangular marginal frame made of strip metal, struts disposed transversely of the frame in the plane thereof and spaced apart longitudinally of the frame so as to divide the latter into a plurality of divisions, said struts also being made of strip metal and engaged at their ends with the sides of the frame, a ring made of rod located at about the center of each division and approximately in the plane of the frame, ribs of strip metal disposed radially of the rings and overlying the same and extending over the adjacent parts of the marginal frame and struts and notched on their under sides to receive parts of the rings, frame and struts, the ribs, rings, frame and struts being rigidly united by welding, the struts having projections on one of their ends that are extended beneath and beyond one side of the frame.

4. A grate according to claim 3, wherein the side of the marginal frame opposite that beneath which said projections extend is provided with a plurality of depending lugs spaced apart longitudinally of the frame.

5. A grate of the class described comprising a marginal frame constructed of two members, the ends of the members being overlapped and welded together with both members of the frame in a common plane, the frame being made of strip metal with the longer axis of its cross section substantially perpendicular to the plane of the frame, one of said members embracing the major portions of the ends of the frame and one side thereof, and the other member embracing the other side and minor portions of the ends of the frame, the former member having depending lugs at intervals throughout its length, struts disposed across the frame at substantially right angles to the sides thereof and spaced apart longitudinally of the frame'to divide the latter into a plurality of divisions, each strut being made of strip metal and arranged with the longer axis of its cross section substantially perpendicular to the plane of the'frame, the ends of each strut being turned laterally to provide lugs that are engaged with the inner surfaces of the sides of the frame and Welded thereto, the strip metal from which the struts are made being substantially wider than that from which the marginal frame is constructed, the distal end of the aforesaid lugs that are connected to the second mentioned member of the marginal frame being cut away in the plane of the frame to provide extensions that are projected-laterally beneath the last mentioned frame member and beyond the outer side thereof, each strut adjacent the other side member of the frame being cut away on its under side so that it will not extend below said frame member, a plurality of rings, one disposed substantially centrally within each of the aforesaid divisions of the frame and ribs made of strip metal and disposed edgewise across the rings substantially radially thereof and notched to receive the rings, and overlying, and notched to receive, the adjacent portions of the marginal frame and struts, the ribs, rings, frame and struts being rigidly united.

MARC RESEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 908,358 Van Dyke Dec. 29, 1908 1,079,767 Jeavons Nov. 25, 1913 1,530,002 Lange Mar. 17, 1925 1,663,438 Brumbaugh Mar. 20, 1928 1,820,277 Klemme Aug. 25, 1931 1,832,142 Sherman Nov. 17, 1931 1,872,019 Taylor Aug. 16, 1932 1,986,740 Moreira Jan. 1, 1935 2,241,871 Tench May 13, 1941 2,285,278 Hennessy June 2, 1942 2,335,181 Heath Nov. 23, 1943 2,402,178 Nilssen June 18, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 81,467 Germany ...1 June 11, 1895' 

